Direct Transcervical Carotid Access for Rapid Stroke Thrombectomy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for acute ischemic stroke face challenges such as lengthy procedures, risk of embolic complications, and inadequate access to cerebral arteries, which hinder timely and effective restoration of blood perfusion to the brain.

Innovation Solution

The development of methods and devices for safe, rapid, and direct transcervical access to cerebral arteries, including distal catheters and devices for occlusion removal, aspiration, and passive flow reversal, to facilitate clot removal while minimizing emboli and ensuring flow control tailored to cerebral hemodynamics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If transcervical access to cerebral arteries is implemented, then access time is reduced and procedure speed is improved, but device complexity and surgical difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess timeVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transcervical access system is divided into multiple components: a guide catheter for initial access, a microcatheter for delivering treatment devices, and specialized thrombectomy devices. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while reducing overall procedure time compared to traditional transfemoral approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide catheter serves as an intermediary device that facilitates access from the cervical region to the cerebral arteries. It provides a stable platform for advancing microcatheters and treatment devices, simplifying the overall access procedure despite the anatomical challenges of transcervical approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If mechanical thrombectomy devices are used for clot removal, then recanalization effectiveness is improved, but risk of embolic complications increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecanalization effectivenessVSAvoidembolic complications

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the potentially harmful fragmented clot material into a beneficial outcome by using aspiration therapy to suction both the thrombus and any embolic fragments into the guide catheter. This transforms the risk of distal embolization into a controlled removal process, maintaining high recanalization effectiveness while minimizing embolic complications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Aspiration therapy utilizes hydraulic principles to create negative pressure that draws clot material and potential emboli into the guide catheter lumen. This pneumatic/hydraulic mechanism provides controlled removal of thrombus while preventing embolic fragments from traveling distally, thus resolving the contradiction between effective clot removal and embolic risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Reliability

If intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy is administered, then clot dissolution is improved, but treatment time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot dissolutionVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary mechanical disruption of the clot through aspiration and thrombectomy devices before or during thrombolytic therapy. This preliminary action reduces the clot burden and increases surface area exposure to thrombolytic agents, enhancing dissolution effectiveness while potentially reducing the infusion time required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges mechanical thrombectomy methods with chemical thrombolytic therapy into a combined approach. By integrating aspiration therapy, mechanical clot disruption, and intra-arterial thrombolytic administration, the system achieves reliable clot dissolution while reducing overall treatment time compared to thrombolytic therapy alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables quicker access to cerebral arteries, reduces the risk of embolic events, and provides controlled flow conditions, thereby shortening procedure time and minimizing brain injury during acute ischemic stroke treatment.

Implementation Method 1

an arterial access device sized and shaped to be inserted directly into an arterial access site in the common carotid artery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDirect vascular access:

Implementation Method 2

distal catheters and devices for occlusion removal, aspiration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAspiration: Suction

Implementation Method 3

passive flow reversal, to facilitate clot removal while minimizing emboli and ensuring flow control tailored to cerebral hemodynamics

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow reversal:

Data Source

PatentUS12343036B2Methods and systems for treatment of acute ischemic stroke

Publication Date: 2025.07.01 ROUTE 92 MEDICAL INC

AI summary

An arterial access device has an internal lumen and a proximal port, the arterial access device sized and shaped to be inserted directly into an arterial access site in the common carotid artery such that the lumen provides a passageway for an interventional device to be inserted via the proximal port into the carotid artery. The arterial access device has a distal portion that is configured to be inserted into an arterial pathway through the access site, and a proximal portion configured to extend outward from the access site when the distal portion is in the arterial pathway.